Embossing machine



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EMBOSSING MACHINE Original Filed May 3l, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 25, 1945. w, TI soLLwlTzER 2,391,777

EMBOS S ING MACHINE original Filed May 51, 938 7 sheets-sheet s Dec. 25, 1945. w. T. GoLLwnzER 2,391,777

EMBOSSING MACHINE 7 Sheetsl-Sheet 4 Original Filed May 31, 1958 Y ii' p Dec. 25, 1945. w. T. GoLLwlTzER EMBOS S ING MACHINE Original Filed May 3l. 19258A '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 -....lllblv Dec. 2 5, 1945. I w. T. GoLLwl-rzER EMBOS SING MACHINE w Original Filed May 3l, 1938 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 A 7 Sheds-Sheet '7 mmm%%\ MS,

W. T. GOLLWITZER EMBOSSING MACHINE Original Filed May 31, 1938 Milli Dec. z5, 1945.

Patented Dec. y25, 1945 2.391.777 EMBOSSING MACHINE Waiter T. Gollwitzer, Euclid, Ohio, assigner to Addressograph-Muitlgraph Corporation, Clevetion of Delaware land, Ohio, a corpora Original application May 31, 1938, Serial No. 210,897, now Patent No. 2,265,229, dated Deeembcr 9, 1941. Divided and this application October 25, 1941, Serial No. 416,547

(Cl. lin-8.6)

Claims.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 210.897 filed May 31, 1938, now issued as Patent No. 2,265,229, December 9, 1941 which is directed Ito the punching mechanism.

The divisiona application 489,112, filed May 31. 1943 is directed to line spacing mechanism for the work supporting cross slide.

The present invention relates to preparing printing devices and the like. and particularly to embossing machines for forming type characters on printing devices as on plates or like elements of such devices.

One of the objects of my invention is to facilitate the mounting and retention of printing plates and the like on the carriage of an embossing or like machine, as well as to expedite removal of such plates from the carriage.

Heretofore some difficulty has been eilcperienced in the handling of printing plates in embossing machines because the dies which operate upon these plates sometimes tend to so jar the plates as to loosen the grip of the plate retaining means so that the type characters sometimes are not formed in their proper relative positions on the plates. Moreover, many prior clamping devices have required considerable skill to operate and repair. Hence, the present invention embodies a novel plate clamping means which obviates the aforesaid and other disadvantages and is moreover of simple and economical construction and reliable in operation.

More specifically, it is an object oi the invenf tion to arrange a pair of gripping jaws on the carriage of an embosing machine in such a manner that a printing plate may be inserted downwardly into the bite of these jaws whereupon the jaws may be swung to bring the plate into a horizontal position so that it may be operated upon by the embossing dies, the plate moreover being tightly clamped by the jaws so as to be properly retained against slippage, all in a singie continuous movement of a jaw-operating member which is adapted to rock back and forth between clamping and releasing positions. Furthermore, it is an object to so arrange the work or plate retaining means or jaws that the printing plate may be swung from its horizontal or working position to a substantially vertical loading position and released from the grip of the jaws by a reverse rocking movement of the Jawoperating member.

Another object of the invention is to enable the carriage of an embossing machine to be back spaced with a minimum of eilort on the part of the operator. Heretofore, machines of this character have made provision for indexing the car' riage in the direction of its normal character spacing movement with very little effort on the part of the operator, but in orderto back space the carriage the operator has had to manually effect the back spacing movement and in so doing needed to overcome the normal tendency of the carriage to move forwardly. In some types of work it is desired to progressively back space .the carriage instead of imparting normal chai'-, acter spacing movement thereto, and in such instances it is not always convenient to perform the numerous manually effected back spacing operations. The present invention aims to relieve the operator of this undue inconvenience by providing a power-operated back spacing movement which enables the carriage to be back spaced as readily as it would normally be indexed in a forward direction.

Other objects are to so arrange the carriage indexing means that substantially all parts of the escapement mechanismincluded therein are located clear of the carriage guideway so as not to unduly complicate the construction of the carriage and associated parts and to enable greater freedom of movement thereof; to so arrange the escapement mechanism that a single member may control both normal character spacing and tabulating movements of the carriage, such member preferably being supported for rocking motion and receiving different amounts of rocking movement in accordance with the type of operation as to be effected; and, in a mechanism of the aforesaid character, to enable selection ofthe positions to which the carriage may be tabulated.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and will be understood by refer- Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embossing machine embodying the present invention:

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of a printing plate of the character trated in Fig. l:

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a printing and control device in which such a printing plate may be used:

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation, in which certain parts are broken away, of the embossing machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the keyboard and carriage of the machine illustrated in Fig. 4;.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view oi' the carriage illustrated in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view drawn to left-hand side of the machine as shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 'la is an enlarged detail view of a printing plate gripping mechanism employed on the carriage of the machine;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 on Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a view, drawn to an enlarged scale, of a portion of the mechanism near the left-hand side of Fig. 4;

Figs. 10 and 11 are views of portions of the mechanism shown in Fig. 9 but showing the parts in dilerent positions;

Fig. 10a is a detail perspective view of-a shouldered pin employed in the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10:

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view of the carriage illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, with the gripping jaws removed therefrom;

Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows on the line |3|3 on Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary detail view of a ratchet employed in the arrangement illustrated in detail in Fig. 13;.

Fig. 15 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on the line |5| 5 on Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a front elevational view of 4the carriage arrangement;

Fig. 17 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a portion of the carriage arrangement shown in Fig. 16; and

Fig. 18 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line |8|8 on Fig. 17.

An embossing machine embodying the present invention is illustrated generally in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, while a printing plate of the character which such a machine is adapted to produce is shown in Fig. 2. 'This printing plate, designated 42, is provided with printing characters which are formed thereon by the embossing machine, such printing characters appearing in relief on one face of the. plate 42 and in intaglio on the opposite face of this plate. These characters may be arranged in individual lines as shown in Fig. 2, for example, to enable printing of the various lines of a name 55 and address 56 and supplemental data as 51.

Printing plates such as 42, Fig. 2, are adapted to be mounted on printing and control devices as 4U shown in Fig. 3. As commonly constructed such printing and control devices as 40 comprise a frame 4| having along its lower edge a bead 43 against which the lower edge of the printing plate 42 is fitted. Retaining devices 44 struck from the frame 4| are disposed in spaced relation to the bead 43 and cooperate therewith to retain the printing plate 42 on the lower half of the frame 4|, the devices 44 engaging the upper or serpentine edge of the plate 42. To restrain the plate 42 against endwise movement produced by a machine as illusan enlarged scaleand looking in at the die heads 85 relative to the frame 4|, the frame 4I is provided with yieldable tongues 45 disposed at opposite ends of the plate 42 and having projections which seat in notches 41, Fig..2, formed in the adjacent ends of the plate 42. When it is desired to remove the plate 42 from the frame 4|. either of be depressed to enable the plate 42 to be slid endwise from the frame.

A bead 58 is formed along the upper edge of the frame 4| and cooperates with retaining devices 5| struck from the frame 4| to removably secure separate index and control cards 52 and 53 in position on the upper half of the frame` 'I'he index card 52 has an impression thereon of the data represented by the printing characters constituting the name 55 and address 56 embossed on the printing plate 42, thereby affording a con- .venient visible indication of such data. The control card 53 and the underlying portion of the frame 4| are adapted to be perforated as shown in Fig. 3 to represent, according to a predetermined code, for example, supplemental data such as the numerical amount printed from the characters 51.

It will be understood, of course, that while I have described the printing plate 42, Fig. 2, as being incorporated in a printing and control device as 40, Fig. 3, this is merely illustrative of the manner in which such a printing plate may be utilized for, asis well understood by those skilled in the art, printing plates such as 42 may be equally well employed in printing devices which are not equipped with control areas such as 53, Fig. 3. In fact, insofar as the present invention is concerned, the use to which a printing plate such as 42 may be put is immaterial and has been described hereinabove only as a matter of general interest.

The embossing machine is so arranged that the and 85, Fig. 4, may be rotated on a vertical axis to bring any selected pair of complemental dies a and 65a, Fig. 7, into operative relation with a. blank plate 42 carried along the forward side of the machine frame 'by a carriage 15. The die heads 65 and 56, as herein shown. are xed in vertically spaced relation on a rotatable vertical shaft 16, Figs. 1 and 4, journaled at its lower end in the machine frame 68 and at its upper end in element 11. The pairs of complemental dies 65a and 68a are mounted in opposed vertically shiftable relation about the periphery of the die heads 55 and 66 so that any pair, selected and shifted by rotation of the die heads to an embossing position at the forward side of the machine, may be brought together to emboss the selected character on the plate 42 positioned between the selected pair of dies as shown in Figs. 5 and 7.

Actuation of the selected pair of dies 65a and 66a is preferably effected by means which drive the two dies toward each other so as to engage the plate 42 and form the desired character therein without vertically shifting the plate from the full-line position of Fig. 7. In the form illustrated this means, for the upper die 65ay comprises an upper rocker arm 18, Fig. 4, pivoted at 19 on the frame element 11 and operated by a toggle 80, interposed between said arm 18 and an actuating shaft 8| mounted adjacent to the top of the frame element 11.

The lower die 66a is actuated by a lower rocker arm 85 which has one end pivoted at 85' to the frame 11, while a pitman 86 operated by a crank 81 on a. horizontal operating shaft 88 is connected to its other end. A lower die stock 89, Fig. 7. is

an 4upstanding arch-like frame mounted for sliding movement in the frame between the lower rocker arm 98, Fig. 4. and the lower die 98a located in embossing position. A similar upper die stock 8|, Fig. 7. is provided between the upper rocker arm 18 and the upper die 88a. the die stock 8| being supported for vertical movement on a carrier arm 92 pivoted at 19.

When the shaft 88 is rotating. the two rocker arms 18 and 9 5 are constantly actuated in unison by the pitman 88 and an operating connection between said shaft 88 and the toggle shaft 9|, such operating connection being located at the back of the machine and being shown in detail in the patent to Joseph S. Duncan and Henry E. Hubbard.No.1.831,103.

As described in the patent to-Joseph S. Duncan. No, 1.518.904,A the rocking movement of the arms 18 and 88 is normally ineective to actuate the dies 88a and 88a. To this end shiftabie die shuttles 9Ia and 92a, Fig. 4. are mounted forl movement into the path of the arms 18 and 88 only when an embossing operation is desired. The shuttles 9|a and 92a are connected by links to opposite ends of a lever 93, which is rocked by means of a bell crank lever 94. This bell crank lever 94 is associated with the die selecting mechanism in the manner disclosed in said Patent No. 1.518.904 so as to render said rocker arms 18 and 88 operable only after selection and proper positioning of a pair of dies.

The selection of the desired' pair of dies 88a and 98a is, in the present embodiment. effected by the keys 91a and 81h. Fig. l. the die-carrying shaft 18 being normally rotated at a high rate of speed and being stopped in any selected position by suitable stop or abutment means operated by said keys. The mechanism for effecting such selective positioning of the die heads forms no part of the present invention. and therefore it will suffice to point out that its specific structure is described in the aforementioned Duncan et al. Patent, No. 1.831.103. It may be stated. however,

. that as disclosed in said patent. the die-actuating rocker arms 18 and 88 are rendered effective automatically during one rocking cycle of these arms immediately after and as an incident to the stopping of the die heads in any selected position.

The carriage 18, Figs. 4 and 5. upon which the plate 42 is supported during the performance of the embossing operations, is so constructed and related to the die-actuating mechanism as to effeet automatic step-by-step or character spacing movement, as well as providing for tabulating and back spacing movement and manually effected line spacing of the plate 42. To this end the carriage 18 has. its main body portion mounted by means of a plurality of guide rollers 98. Figs. 5, 6. '1 and 16, on a transverse rail or track 98 which extends across the frontA of the frame 11. The rollers 98 are so related to the track 98 as to permit movement of the carriage across the front of the machine during. for example. character spacing movement of the carriage, while on the top of the carriage a cross slide 98, Figs. 16 and 18, is provided for movement transversely with respect standing bearing luge |8| thereon in which a jaw-supporting shaft |82 is Journaled. The two Jaws 99' and 89", Fig. 7a, are in the nature of opposed plates, the lower one 99' of which carries lugs |88. Fig. 6. through which the shaft |82 rotatably extends, and the upper yiaw.99" has a pivotal connection -with the lower jaw 99' by means of pins |84 extending loosely through the two plates 99' and 99". curing wires |88 extending therethrough on the outer sides of the two plates. 99' and 99" and the pins |84 and these plates are so tted as to permit slight pivotal movement for clamping and unclamping of a printing plate 42.

To provide for clamping of the Jaws 99, the plates 99 and 99" extend at their rear ends so as to embrace opposite sides of the shaft |82. and the shaft is flattened on opposite sides thereof as shown in Figs. 'la and 18.4 Thus when the shaft |82 is rotated in one direction nearly 90 relative to the plates 99 and 99'.' and into a position like that shown in Fig. 18, the adjacent rear edges of the plates are separated so as to clamp the forward or outer edges of the plates or Jaws upon the printing plate 42. It will be seen in Fig. 7a that a substantially U-shaped spring |88 is provided ladjacent the central pin |84 and between the plates 98' and 99" to separate said plates or Jaws to the maximum extent. Preferably the forward end of the upper jaw 99" is hooked and cooperates in pincers fashion with a fiat portion or ledge on the forward end of the lower Jaw 98' to firmly clamp the printing plate 42 in position. as shown in Fig. 7a. To facilitate accurate positioning of the printing plates between the jaws. a shoulder |81 is formed on the lower Jaw 99 slightly inwardly of the flat part thereof. thereby affordinga stop for limiting insertion of a printing plate as 42 between the jaws.

In the operation of the jaws 99 to ciampi a printing plate 42, the Jaws are first rocked toward the'operator to the broken-line position of Fig. '1. wherein they rest against a loading abutment ||8 formed on the member |88. Buch movement of the jaws is effected by the shaft |82 which has a 90 rotative lost motion connection with the lower jaw 99'. sufficient toenable the shaft |82 to accomplish its jaw-clamping function in addition to its function in. moving the Jaws between loading and working positions. The desired lost motion is attained by means of a y notched collar |88. Fig. 7a, fixed on the shaft to the track 98, or toward and away from the die heads. Thus, the cross slide 98 provides'for line spacing movement, the plate 42 being supported on the cross slide 98 by releasable clamping means such as the clamping Jaws 89. Figs. 6. 7, 7a and 18.

As shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 18, the Jaws 99 are carried on a mounting member |88 which is detachably secured to the cross-slide 88 by means described hereinafter, the member |88 having up- |82 and arranged so that the' shoulders at the ends of the notch therein may alternatively engage a projecting pin |89 on the jaw 99' as shown in Fig. '1a. To facilitate the operation of the laws 99. the shaft |82 has a knurled operating disk or knob I on its projecting left end, Fig. 8. When the Jaws 99 have been shifted to their upright or loading position, the shaft |82 is turned to the full extent permitted by its lost-motion connection of Fig. '1a so as to thereby present the flattened surfaces thereon to the Jaws 99' and 99" and thereby enable the spring |88 to separate the plate clamping portions of the Jaws so as to fully release or unclamp the Jaws. The printing plate 42 is then inserted between the Jaws 99 which grip the plate sufficiently firmly to enable the Jaws to be rotated back 'to their horizontal position shown in Figs. 7 and 18 without releasing the plate, so as to thereby enable the plate to be carried to its working position. This movement of the Jaws is limited by an abutment pin ||2. Fig. 18, on the cross slide 98, and to securely clamp the printing plate. the operator These pins |84 have secontinues the turning of the shaft |02 to the full extent permitted by its lost motion connection which results in retracting the flattened portions of the shaft |02 from the Jaws 33' and 03 so as to dispose these portions in the position shown in Fig. Fla and since the rounded portions on the shaft then engage the jaws they are forced into tight engagement with the plate. It will be understood that such rocking movement of the jaws 30 to and from the loading position takes place in the normal use of the machine while the carriage 15 is located at one side of the embossing position.

As herein shown the mounting member |00, Figs. 5, 16 and 18, is secured on the cross slide 98 by means which provides for adjustment of the mounting member parallel to the path of the carriage, and also which provides for adjustment of the mounting member so that the plate 42 carried thereby is positioned with its axis parallel to said path ofthe carriage 15. To this end the top face of the cross slide 98 has aligned slots ||3 and ||3', Fig. 12, formed therein generally parallel to the carriage path, and a xed depending pin ||4, Figs. 12 and 16, projects from the mounting member into the slot ||3. For cooperation with the other slot H3 a pin ||4 is provided which is ilxed eccentrically on a small disk 'mounted in the bottom of the member |00. By means of a stub shaft 5', Figs. 12 and 16, projecting upwardly through the member |00, the eccentric pin |4 may be shifted so as to adjust the mounting member into the desired parallel relation to the carriage path, and by a lock nut |I5", Fig. 6, threaded onto the stub shaft H5', this adjustment may be maintained.

A headed screw 00', Figs. 6 and 18, extends through an aperture |00" in the member |00 and is threaded into the cross slide 98 to secure the mounting member |00 onto the cross slide 98 and, as shown in Fig. 18, the aperture |00" is somewhat larger than the screw |00' so as to permit the desired horizontal adjustment of the member |00.

To aiord longitudinal adjustment of the mounting member 00, a transverse slot 38', Fig. l2, is formed in the cross slide 38 and a headed screwii", projecting from the left end of the member |00, Fig. 6, has the lower edge of its head positioned in the slot 98'. of the screw4 98" the positioning of the mounting member longitudinally of the direction of movement of the carriage is determined.

For the purpose of imparting the desired line spacing movement to the printing plates, the cross slide 98 is normally urged to a retracted position by springs 15', Fig. 18, and is advanced line by line by means of a ratchet mechanism H6, Figs. 12 and 13. ln the form shown, the cross slide 9B is partially supported and guided on the carriage 15 by a rod H1, Figs. 17 and 18, which is secured to the carriage 15 and is slidably iltted in bearing apertures |I8 in depending flanges H9 along the front and rear edges of the cross slide 98.

A rotatable shaft |20, Figs. 7 and 18, is mounted transversely of the carriage 15, and pinions |2| fixed on this shaft mesh with racks |22 formed on depending flanges at opposite ends of the cross slide 58. The shaft carries a ratchet wheel |25, Fig. 13, at one end thereof,vand this ratchet is fixed in a rotatively adjustable relation to the shaft |20 through the medium of a nonrotatable collar |26 and two adjusting screws |21, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15 of the drawings. An actuating pawl |30, Figs. 12, 13 and 16, and

Thus, by adjustment a control pawl 3| are associated with the ratchet wheel to actuate the shaft |20. As shown in Fig. 13, the actuating pawl |30 is of an inver-ted U-form and is pivoted intermediate its ends, at |32, on one end of a carrier arm |33. The pawl |31 has a tooth |34 at 'one end thereof and this tooth is urged into operative engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel |23 by a spring extended between the pawl |30 and its carrier arm |33. 'I'he carrier arm |33 is pivotally mounted on the shaft |20 for rotative movement relative to said shaft, so that by rocking said arm from the position of Fig, 13 in a counter-clockwise direction the cross slide 30 may be advanced. The carrier arm |33 is normally urged by a spring |34 to its normal position as shown in Fig. 13.

A bell crank |35, Fig. 12, pivoted on the carriage 15 has an actuating arm |35' which engages the downwardly extending end of the carrier arm |33, as shown in Fig. 13, and this bell crank |35 is operated by a second bell crank |30 which is pivoted on the same axis as bell crank |35. One arm of the bell crank |30 extends outwardly from the carriage 15 and constitutes a line space lever |36', Fig. 12, while the other arm has a return spring |31 connected thereto and has a stop shoulder |31' formed thereon which cooperates with an abutment |40' on the carriage 15 to determine the initial position of the line space lever |36'. An operating connection between the line space lever |38' and the transmitting bell lcrank |35 is provided by a downturned lug |38 on the bell crank lever |36 which overlies the bell crank |35 so that actuation of the lever |36' serves to impart operating movement to the arm v|35 of bell crank I 35 for thereby actuating the pawl |30. The extent of movement of the lever |36 is limited by abutment faces |40, Fig. l2, on the pawls |35 and |33 which engage the abutment |40' on the carriage 15 so that a full stroke of said lever advances the cross slide 38 one linespace. Having been given such a line spacing movement the cross slide is retained in its advanced position by the control pawl |3|, Fig. 13, which is pivoted on the carriage beneath the shaft |20 on a pivot pin |4| and has a tooth |42 operable to engage the ratchet Wheel |25. The tooth |42 and the teeth of the ratchet wheel are so related that the yielding force of the springs 15', Fig. 18, tending to produce return movement of the ratchet wheel |25 acts to hold the cooperating teeth in their operative relation and thereby fixes the cross slide 98 in -the desired position. As shown in Figs. l2 and 13, the control pawl I3| has a finger piece |44 by which it may be depressed to disengage the pawl |3| from the ratchet wheel |25, and the pawl |3| also has a tail piece |45 which, in the disengaging movement of pawl |3|, engages a roller |46 on the pawl |30 to shift said pawl |30 out of engagement with the ratchet |25 to thereby release the cross slide 98 to the restoring action of the springs 15', Fig. 18. A spring |41 acting between the tail piece |45 and the carriage 15 tends to maintain the control pawl |31 in operative engagement with the ratchet wheel |2 The requisite step-by-step character-spacing movementv of the carriage 15 is effected by means provided to control a spring-biased tendency of the carriage 1-5 to shift toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 4. Such a spring bias may be imparted to the carriage by a conventional tensioning drum TD Figs. 1 and 4. mounted on the extending right end of the rail 36 and operatively there is provided a carriage control shaft |85 rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis, as shown in Fig. 8, in a bearing member |58 c-arried on the guide rail 88 adjacent the left-hand side of the machine frame, Fig. 16. On its rear end the shaft |55 has a pinion |55', Fig. 8, which on its upper side engages a horizontal rack |51 that is guided in the mounting or be-aring member |58 and has its right-hand end, Figs. 9 and 18, releasably engaged with the carriage by means of a latch member |58. Thus, 'the spring tension on the carriage A15 tends, through the rack |51, to rotate the control shaft |55 in a clockwise direction, Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 16, and means is therefore provided for governing such rotation of the control shaft |85 to attain the desired tabulating and character spacing movements or for producing reverse or back spacing movement thereof.

The control shaft |88, forwardly of the bearing member |88, has a relatively wide-toothed ratchet wheel |80 keyed thereto as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and outwardly of the ratchet wheel |80 a notched tabulating disk |8| is fixed on the shaft |88. Two eseapcment pawls |82 andV |83 are provided for cooperatlonwith the ratchet wheel |80 while a t-abulatlng pawl |88 is provided for cooperation with the tabulating disk |8|, this tabulating pawl |88 being arranged for engagement with a tabulating stop |88 which may be manually positioned in any selected one of a plurality of radial slots |88 formed in the disk |8i, Fig. 9.

The two escapement pawls |82 and |88 and the tabulating pawl |88 are generally similar in form. as shown in Figs. 9 to 11, and are provided on corresponding arms of similar bell cranks. These bell cranks are pivotaily mounted on a common shaft |81 projecting from the mounting member |88, so that the arms upon which the pawls are provided project over the control shaft |88, while the other arms of the bell cranks project downwardly from the pivot shaft |81.

In accordance with the present invention the three pawls |82, |83 and |88 are normally urged toward effective positions by leaf springs |89 and are governed by a single actuating member |10, Fig. 10a, which acts on the depending arms of the bell cranks upon which these pawls are In the present embodiment the comform of a rock shaft which ls mounted in the bearing` member |88 to the bell crank arms, Fig. 16. and is provided with cam surfaces arranged to act on these adjacent bell crank arms to eflect character spacing movement of the escapement pawls |82 and |63 in certain movements of the rock shaft |10, and to effect release of the pawls |82 and |83 with a simultaneous operation of the tabulating pawl |84 in 'other movements of the rock shaft.

Thus, as shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 10a, the rock shaft |10 has two fiat cam surfaces |1| and |12 formed thereon for operation on the depending bell crank arms. Each of these surfaces |1| and |12 is in the present instance formed by cuttingl away one-half of the shaft |18 on a diameter thereoi`, as shown in Fig. 10a, so that these surl |80. Similarly the pawl faces lie in different dlameteric planes of the shaft. the two diametric planes in the present case being angularly displaced about 60 from each other.

In Figs. 9 and |10 is shown in its normal position, and the depending bell crank arm or tail piece |82' of" the pawl |82 rests against the lower corner |1i' of the cam surface the pawl |82 is engaged with the ratchet wheel |82 has its depending bell crank arm formed to provide a tail piece |83' which in the normal position of the rock shaft |10 rests against the upper corner |12 of the surface |12, and is so related to the pawl |83 that this pawl is then out of engagement w'ith the ratchet wheel |80 as shown in Fig. 9. As shown in Fig. 16, the tail piece |83', normally projects downwardly in angular relation to the surface |12; however, a relatively slight counterclockwise rocking movement of the shaft |10 retracts the upper corner |12' sufficiently to enable the tail piece |83' to swing against the surface |12 and causes the pawl |83 to move into engagement with the ratchet |80. It should be noted, Fig. 9, that the nose of the pawl |83 is slightly in arrear of the nose of the pawl |82 so as to engage the succeeding tooth of the ratchet wheel when the pawl |82 is released, as will be explained.

The above described rocking movement of the shaft |18 from the normal position of Fig. 16 in a counterclockwise direction to a position wherein the opposing face of the tail piece |83' is substantially parallel to the surface |12, constitutes a character spacing movement of said shaft |10, and causes the lower corner |1|', Fig. 10a, to act on the tail piece |82 and thereby release the pawl |82 while simultaneously the upper edge |12' moves away from the tail piece |83' and allows the pawl |83 to move into the path of the succeeding tooth of the ratchet. When the shaft |10 is subsequently returned to the position of Fig. 16, the pawl |83 is withdrawn so as to be conditioned for the next operation and the pawl |82 engages said succeeding tooth.

During such a character spacing operation the tabulating pawl |88 is maintained at all times out of the path of the tabulating stop |85, for as shown in Figs. 9 and 16, the pawl |88 has a tail piece |84 which rides on the upper corner |12' and which is so related to its pawl |88 that when the shaft |10 is in its normal position the pawl |84 is spaced from the path of the tabulatinsir stop |65 a substantial distance. This clearance is such that in a character spacing movement of the rock shaft |10 the pawl |84 merely approaches but does not reach the path of the stop |85.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 16, the tail piece |84 of the tabulating pawlv |84 is relatively short, being terminated short of the central axis of the rock shaft |10, whereas the tail piece |83' of the pawl |83 extends downwardly to the lower edge of the sha-ft |18. Thus, if the shaft |10 is rocked 16 of the drawings the rock shaft lll, and when thus positioned edge The ratchet |60, rack |51 and carriage 15 are thus freed to the action of the tensioning drum TD, Figs. 1 and 4, causing the 'crriage 15 to move to the right, Fig. 16, until arrested by engagement of the adjustable stop |65, Fig. 11, with the pawl |64. Upon return of the rock shaft toits initial position the pawl |63 is first re-engaged with the ratchet wheel |60 prior to withdrawal of the tabulating pawl |64, after which the pawl |62 takes precedence over the pawl |63 in the same manner as in a character spacing operation.

To provide for back-spacing of the carriage 15, a back spacing pawl 80 is mounted for vertical movement along the right-hand side of the ratchet wheel |60, Figs. 9 to 11, the pawl |80 being formed on the upper end of a back spacer link |8| which rides between a guide block |82 and a backing pin |83 both carried by the mounting member |56. A spring |84 is mounted on the linkr |8| so as to act against the backing pin |83, and during upward movement of the 'link |8| this spring urges the pawl |80 into engagement with the ratchet wheel |60 whereby the pawl |80 moves the ratchet |60 counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 9, and a back spacing movement of the control shaft |55 is effected. The return or downward movement of the link |8| is limited by a stop pin |85 on the member |56, which stop pin cooperates with a cam surface |86 on the pawl |80 to insure Withdrawal of the paw] |80 from the teeth of the ratchet wheel |60.

The back spacing paw] |80 may be operated' manually by means of a back space key |90, Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 9. mounted at the left side of the keyboard, as viewed in Fig. 4, on a supporting lever |9| which is pivoted on a shaft |92, Fig. '7. A rigidly connected arm |9|',*to which the lower end of the back spacer link |8| is pivoted at |93, projects rearwardly from the lever |9| and over the shaft |92. space key |90, the control shaft |55 may be reversely actuated so as to shift the carriage one space to the left, Figs. 4 and 5.

For the purpose of actuating the rock shaft |70 selectively through its tabulating or character spacing movements, separately formed arms |95 and |96 are fixed on the rock shaft |10 adjacent to the rear end thereof, as shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 1l. The lever |96 is of bell crank form to provide an upwardly extending arm |96. Figs. 9 and ll, and by means of a spring |91 extended between the arm |96' and the bearing member |56, the rock shaft |10 is urged toward its normal position shown in Fig. 9, such normal position of the rock shaft |10 being determined by a stationary stop pin |96", Fig. 9. lying in the path of the arm |96'.

As shown in Figs. 7, 9 and 11, the member |96 has a forwardly turned lug |98 at its end which may be engaged by a shoulder 99 formed near the upper end of a downwardly shftable spacing rod 200 to actuate the rock shaft |10 through a character-spacing movement. The spacing rod 200, which is best shown in Figs. 7 and 9, has its lower end pivoted on one arm of a bell crank 202 mounted on the shaft |92, the arm 20| projecting rearwardly in a generally horizontal direction from the shaft |92, while side of the machine as viewed in ing bar 204 keyboard Thus, by depression of the back.

forward ends of supporting arms 205 which project forwardly from a mounting sleeve 205', Fig. 7, carried on a cross shaft 206. From the mounting sleeve 205', a rigidly formed arm 201 projects downwardly as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, and is operatively connected to the bell crank arm 203 by a link 208. A spring 209 acting on one of the arms 205 normally maintains the spacer bar 204 in its elevated position; and when the bar is depressed, a downward movement is imparted to the spacer rod 200. In such downward movement, the upper end of the spacer rod 200 is guided laterally by spaced guide fingers 2|0, Figs. l5 and 9, formed on a rocker element 2|| pivoted on the member |56, and the rod 200 is urged toward the lug |98 of the actuating arm |96 by a spring 2| 2 acting upwardly and laterally between the rod 200 and the tail 2|3 of the rocker element 2||, whereby normally to insure operative engagement of the shoulder |99 with the lug |98.

After the' desired character-spacing movement of the arm |96 has been completed, a lower shoulder |99' on the character spacing rod 200 strikes the guide fingers 2|0 so as to shift the rocker member 2| in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 9, thus causing a rearwardly bent lug 2H on an upper part of the member 2|| to engage the upper portion of the rod 200 and disengage its shoulder |99 fromthe lug |98 of the arm |96. Thus the actuating rock shaft |10 has a quick return movement to its normal position, whereby to be conditioned for other operations.

Character spacing is effected atuomatically near the end of each embossing operation by suitable means such as that shown and described in Patent No. 1,831,103, patented November 10. 1931.

As shown in Figs. 10 and 1l, the tabulating arm has an arcuate,v generally vertical, slot 2|5 formed therein through which the laterally bent upper end or head 2|5 of a tabulating rod 2| 6 extends. This rod 2| 6 is pivoted at its lower end to the rear end of a lever 2 |1, Fig. 7, which lever is pivoted at its other 2|1 and the key 2|8 being normally elevated head 2|5 of the tabulating rod 2 |6 is normally positioned at the lower end of the slot 2|5. Thus the cam shaft |10 may be rocked through a character spacing movement without disturbing the tabulating mechanism, as is evident from Fig. 10.

When the tabulating key 2|8 is depressed, the head 2|5' of the rod 2|6 is drawn downwardly to the position shown in Fig.V 11 so as to move the arm |95 downwardly beyond the position of Fig. 10, whereby to cause a tabulating operation of the p'awls |92, |93 and |94 in the manner described hereinabove.

The arm 222 constitutes a carriage release lever and is positioned directly over a fixed gripping piece 224 so that an operator may conveniently depress the release lever 222. A spring 225 urges the release lever 222 to an elevated position and as shown in Fig. 18, means is provided in association with the rearwardly projecting arm 228 of the bell crank 220 to release the pawl |82 from the ratchet wheel |80 when the release lever 222 is depressed,

This last-mentioned means is preferably operable in any position of the rack |51 and the carriage |15, and as herein shown comprises a horizontally positioned angle bar 230. Figs. l1. 16. 1'1 and 18, mounted on the rail 88 for transverse or vertical shifting movement by the arm 225. and arranged, when elevated from its position of Fig. 16, to release the escapement pawl |82 and thereby permit free traversing movement of the carriage. To this end the angle bar 230 has a forwardly facing channel portion 23| at its left end, Figs. 8 and 16, into which a roller 232, Fig. 18. on the rear face of the pawl |62 projects, and the bar 230 is suspended on parallel links 238 from the rail 88. Thus the bar 230 is maintained in a horizontal position at al1 times and it is of such a length that the carriage 15 may be shifted a substantial distance to the right, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 16, while still maintaining the roller 23d on the arm 228 beneath the forwardly projecting flange of the bar 230. Hence. when the carriage is located at any point within this range, the release lever 222 may be depressed and the carriage traversed freely back and forth, and upon return of the lever 222 to its normal position the escapement pawl |82 again becomes effective to hold the carriage in its new position.

As shown in Fig. 16, the rack |51 is releasably connected to the carriage 18 by means of the latch member |58 carried by the rack |51, which latch has a notch 280 that is normally maintained in engagement with a lug 2M on the carriage 15 by means of a leaf spring F82 acting upon the latch |58. In some instan/ces it is desirable to move the carriage 18 to the right beyond the range of movement of the rack |51 for the purpose of smoothing the embossed letters by means of a plate roller attachment (not shown). such rolling ofthe plate 82 is desired, the car' riage 15 is moved to the right, Fig. 16. until a beveled surface 260 on the latch member |58 strikes a pin 288 on the rail 88, so that the latch |58 ls disengaged from the tooth 24|. The rack |51 then remains lin substantially the position of Fig. 16 while the carriage 15 is shifted farther to the right. In the return movement of the carriage the tooth 22| engages the left side of the notch 240 so as to shift the rack |51 tothe left. Fig. 16, and to cause re-engagement of the latch |88 with the tooth 28|.

In certain operations, particularly where the embossing machine is to be used in conjunction with a punching machine as P, Fig. 1, ofthe character disclosed in my aforesaid application, Serial No. 210,897, now issued as United States Letters Patent No. 2,265,229, patented December 9, 1941, it may be desired to so arrange the character spacing mechanism that the carriage 15 travels in a reverse .manner (that is, to the left, Fig. intermediate the character embossing operations. To this end, a solenoid 820, Figs. '7 and 9, is'stationarily mounted on the frame of the machine near the spacing rod 200, and the core 823 of this solenoid is connected by a link 825 to the spacing rod 200. Energization of solenoid 823 effects retraction of the rod 200 into its broken-line position. Fig. 9, so that the shoulder |89 cannot engage the lug |88, and hence the normal character spacing operations cannot take place so long as the solenoid 820 remains energized. The spacing rod 200 is actuated downwardly in the usual manner at the end of each character embossing operation, and a lug 6|1 thereon engages and closes a normally open switch 8|5 which is located near the broken-line position of the rod 200. Such closure of the switch 6|5 brings about the energization of a solenoid 8|0, Fig. '7. which has a plunger'l I connected by a link SI2 to a rearward extension 6|3 of the arm IBI. Since the back spacer rod I8| is connected to the arm lili. this rod is actuated by energization of the solenoid GID to thereupon effect a back spacing operation. Thus, the cai"- riage 15 is progressively back-spaced instead of receiving the usual character spacing movement in this type of operation.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that I have provided an arrangement which materially expedites the handling of printing plates or the like in embossing vmachines or the character set forth hereinabove.

Thus, the work-supporting means on the carriage 15 includes jaws 89, Fig. 7a, which are mounted on a shaft |02 that not only ailords a pivot center for the jaws so that they may be rocked to move the printing plate between its working and loading positions, but which also serves to actuate the jaws for positively clamping and releasing the jaws at these two positions,

" respectively, such clamping and releasing movements of the shalt |02 being continuous with the aforesaid rocking motion thereof.

Further advantages are afforded by the novel escapement mechanism, Figs, 9 to ll. which may be selectively conditioned to index the carriage 15 in normal character spacing movements thereof or to tabulato the carriage to a selected position determined by the location of the adjustable stop |65 on the toothed wheel |8|. Such 'f selective conditioningr of the escapement mechanism for performing either normal character spacing or tabulating operations is eilected by a rock shaft |10, Fig. 10a, which is operative under control of the spacing rod 200 or the tabulating rod 2|8, Fig. 9. to operate the escapement pawls |82 and |83 and the tabulating pawl |84. Back spacing may be effected either manually by depression of the back space ky |90, Figs. 5 and '1. or automatically under control oi the solenoid 820, Figs. '1 and 9, in which latter event the back spacing movement ol the carriage 15 occurs in lieu of the normal character spacing movement thereof upon each actuation of the spacing rod 200.

The carriage 15 may be released at any position within its normal werking range by means oi the release mechanism illustrated in 18 which is manually operable to disable the escapement pawls, Fig. 10. An automatic re-l lease mechanism |58, Fig. 16, is also provided to disconnect the escapement rack |51 from the carriage l5 when the latter is moved beyond its normal range and torre-connect the carriage to the rack when the carriage is moved back into such range.

While I have illustrated and described a selected embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and y modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire Figs. 17 andl to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for embossing printing plates, the combination of a carriage for supporting and traversing such a printing plate, said carriage having a pair of releasable clamping jaws in which a printing plate to be embossed may be secured and means for mounting said jaws on said carriage including a mounting member, means for securing said mounting member against a flat surface on said carriage, said last mentioned means being arranged to permit limited adjustment of said mounting member to position said jaws parallel to the path of movement of said carriage, means for. effecting such adjustment, said means comprising a fixed pin projecting from said mounting member adjacent to one end thereof and into a slot in said surface of the carriage, a second pin on said mounting member adjacent to the other end thereof and adapted to project into a second slot in said surface of said carriage, said second pin being mounted on an adjustable eccentric, means for rotating said eccentric and for fixing the same in adjustable position, and means for effecting adjustment of said mounting member longitudinally of said path including a headed screw threaded into one end of said mounting member substantially parallel to said bar and having one edge of said head engaging a transverse slot in said surface of the carriage.

2. In a machine forA embossing printing plates, the combination of a carriage for supporting and traversing such a printing plate, said carriage having a pair of releasable clamping jaws in which a printing plate to be embossed may be secured and means for mounting said jaws on said carriage including a mounting member, means securing said mounting member against a flat surface on said carriage and arranged to permit limited adjustment of said mounting member to position said jaws parallel to the path of movement of said carriage, means for effecting such adjustment, said last-mentioned means comprising a fixed pin projecting from said mounting member adjacent to one end thereof and into a slot in said surface of the carriage. a second pin on said mounting member adjacent to the other end thereof and adapted to project into a second slot in said surface of said carriage, said second pin being mounted on an adjustable eccentric, means for rotating said eccentric and for fixing the same in adjustable position, and means for effecting adjustment of said mounting member on said carriage longitudinally of said path.

3. In a machine for embossing printing plates,

the combination of a carriage for supporting and traversing such a printing plate, said carriage having a pair of releasable clamping jaws in which a printing plate to be ,embossed may be secured, and means for mounting said jaws on said carriage including a mounting member, means on said carriage affording a fiat mounting surface having a pair of slots therein extended generally parallel to the reciprocating path of said carriage, a fixed pin projecting from said mounting member adjacent to one end thereof and into one of said slots in said surface, a second pin on said mounting member adjacent to the other end thereof and adapted to project into said second slot in said surface. said second pin being mounted on an adjustable eccentric, means for rotating said eccentric and for fixing the same in adjustable position to adjust said mounting member so as to locate said Jaws parallel to the path of movement of said carriage, and means for securing said mounting member in such an adjusted position.

4. In an apparatus for embossing type characters on a printing plate or similar element, embossing means, and means for supporting and advancing such a plate or element in an operative relation to said embossing means comprising a carriage mounted for character spacing movement relative to said embossing means, a cross slide mounted on said carriage, a rock shaft mounted on said cross slide substantially parallel to the path of character spacing movement of said carriage, a first clamping jaw having clamping surfaces thereon adjacent one of its edges and mounted adjacent its opposite edge on said rock shaft for relative rocking movement thereon, an opposed clamping member having clamping surfaces disposed in opposed relation to said clamping surfaces of said first clamping jaw and having an operating tail portion disposed in. abutment with one side of rock shaft, means disposed intermediate said tail portion of said second Jaw and the clamping surfaces thereof and pivotally supporting said second jaw on said first `law, spring means acting between said jaws to maintain said tail portion against said rock shaft and thereby to tend to separate said clamping surfaces of said jaws. cam surface means on said rock shaft engaged with saidtail portion and operable upon predetermined rocking movement of said shaft on one direction relative to said jaws to impart clamping movement to said jaws against the action of said spring means, and operable upon predetermined rocking movement of the shaft in the other direction relative to said jaws torelease said jaws for unclamping movement by said spring means, abutment means lying in the path of movement of said jaws to define operative and loading positions respectively for said jaws, cooperating means flxed on said rock shaft and one of said jaws to limit rocking movement of said rock shaft relative to said Jaws, and manually engageable means on said rock shaft for rocking said shaft to shift said jaws between said positions and apply clamping or unclamping movementI thereto.

5. In an apparatus for embossing type characters on a printing plate or similar element, embossing means, and means for supporting and advancing such a plate or element in an operative relation to said embossing means comprising a carriage mounted for character spacing movement relative to said embossing means, a cross slide mounted on said carriage, a rock shaft mounted on said cross slide substantially parallel to the path of character spacing movement of said carriage, a first clamping jaw having clamping surfaces thereon adjacent one of its edges. spaced mounting lugs formed on said jaw adjacent its opposite edge and embracing said rock shaft for relative rocking movement thereon, an opposed clamping member having clamping surfaces disposed in opposed relation to said clamping surfaces of said first clamping jaw and having an operating tail portion disposed in abutment with one side of rock shaft between said mounting lugs, means disposed intermediate said tail Dortion o1' said second jaw and the clampingr surfaces thereof and pivotally supporting said s'econd jaw on said first jaw, spring means .acting between said jaws to maintain said tail portion against said rock shaft and thereby to tend to separate said clamping surfaces of said jaws, cam surface means on said rock shaft engaged with said tail pormovement by' said spring means, abutment tion and operable upon predetermined rocking means lying in the path of movement of said movement of said shaft on one direction relative jaws to define operative and loading positions reto said jaws to impart clamping movement to said spectively. for said jaws, a manual operating jaws against the action of said spring means, and 5 handle xed on said rock shaft for rocking the operable upon predetermined rocking movement same, andmeans providing a limited lost motion of the shaft in the other direction relative to said connection between said shaft and said first jaw. jaws to release said jaws' for unclamping WALTER T. GOLLWITZER. 

